Editorial: Health site is ill

How ironic — but not funny — is it that the Goodhue County Public Health building is sick. The very people who work to maintain community health could become ill simply by doing their jobs.

As reported in Wednesday’s paper, the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Division awaits word that county officials have investigated alleged hazards in the former jail building and will address any findings. Mold and sewer smells are among the complaints.

What’s so bad about that? Well, when sewer gas reaches 0.01 parts per million, people can start showing signs of physical and mental illness. Headaches, increased heart rate and a loss of muscle coordination can set in. When concentrations reach 20 ppm, people can display memory loss, lose their appetite and become irritable.

Getting staff out of the building is a must. If tests confirm gas, then June 1 isn’t soon enough.

Goodhue County must take care that a sick building doesn’t degenerate into a sick situation.

Tags: opinion, editorials